Benjamin p



B. P. AUTREY.

RAILROAD TIE.

APPLICATION FILED IuLYzI, 1919.

'1,32 1;.877. Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

@f1/manto@ BENJAMIN r. AUTREY, or Error POINT, TEXAS. y

. specification of reaersfriem., patntedvmnlg, 191.9,

Eppiicatidn ined :muy ai, i919. #serial No. 312,154;

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN P. AIJTREY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Filot Point, in the county of Denton and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Railroad-Tie, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to railroad ties and has for its object the provision of a tie that will permit a certain amount of resiliency and in which the tension of the resilient members may be adjusted. n

Another object is to provide a tie the body of which may be made of pressed metal to form a housing for the resilient member.

A further object is the provision of means for inspection and repair of the resilient member Without removing the tie from the roadbed and to provide a simple strong and eflicient tie that may be manufactured' and placed on the maiket at a comparatively small cost.

With these and other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts shown in the drawing, and specifically pointed out in the appended claim, it being understood that minor changes may be made in the device without departing from the spirit or sa cri ficing any of the advantages of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in s ection of a tie constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan vievv ci the same, there being parts in section, u

Fig. 3 is a perspective .view of a spring support used in con]unction with the tie; and

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the tie.

Referring to the drawing b-y numerals of reference in which like characters refer to like parts throughout the several -figures, there is shown a housing `1 comprising upper and lower members 2 and 3, the lower member 3 forming a base for the tie and consisting of a U-shaped member having u pstanding side walls 11 and a bottom 5y. Stiffening ribs 6 are formed on the side walls l1.

The upper member 2 is similar to the lower member, it being oi' slightly greater width to t over the lower member. Ribs 7 are Jiormed on the walls of the part 2 and tit over the ribs G. The ribs 6 and 7 serve not only as stiilening ribs but, interengaging as they do, prevent relative longitudinal movement of the parts 2 and 3.

Formed on the side walls of the member 2 at the ends thereof are flanges 8. Between the flange 8 and the ends oi' the side walls L are slidable end closure plates 9.

A group of coil springs 12 are located preferably under each rail seat. There are four shown in the present instance and are adapted to be placed under stress between the upper housing member and a spring scat plate 13. A retaining socket 14 is formed on the plate 13 for the group of springs by riveting or otherwise securing to the base member 13 a plurality of upstauding strips 16, the strips 16 being curved to conform to the diameter of the spring coil and the springs being of such size and so art ranged that they occupy the space between the side walls and are supported in an upright position by the said walls and the strips 16.

Bolts 17 connect the two members oi the tie together and also provide for adjustment of the springs to the desired compres sion. The bolts 17 at the ends oi the tie pass through the base 13 of the spring sup port to hold the same in position.

When itis desired to inspect the springs the closure 9 may be removed and should repair be necessary to any of the springs the entire spring structure may be readily removed by first removing the bolt 17. A flange 18 is formed on the base member 13 to facilitate removal of the spring assembly.

The rail 19 is secured to the upper member 2 by means of a fixed rail clip 20 riveted to the tie, which engages one flange of the rail, the opposite flange being engaged by a rail clip 21, the same being movable longitudinally in a guide member 22 also riveted to the tie. A wedge blocik 23 forces the clip into engagement with the rail and et't'ectually grips the same to the tie. Set screws 2li and 25 hold the wedge and clip 21 respectfully against becoming oose.

A tie constructed in accordance with this invention may be easily manufactured by either casting the housing members or forming them from sheet metal. In either case assembly of the tie is easy and it is possible to vary the tension on the springs to obtain any degree of resiliency desired.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is v n In a rail tie, upper and lower U-shaped housing members, having open ends,k a closure plate for the said ends, interen'gaging ribs formed on the side wells 01:' the two members, al resilient member comprising it plurality of springs interposed between the upper and. lower members, means for retaining` the springs in position and means 10 for adgusting the resiliency of the springs,

In testimony that I claim the `foregoing as my own, I lave hereto afixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN I). AUTREY.

Witnesses:

FRED R. WILSON, GREEN FLARE. 

